-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Americans are forgoing medical attention in the face of high health-care costs , a new consumer health survey has found .

The high cost of medical care and treatment has some sick people opting out of treatment , a survey finds .

Specifically , 24 percent of people polled in the 2009 Deloitte Survey of Health Care Consumers decided not to seek medical care when they were sick or injured .

The largest subgroups were those who were uninsured -LRB- 36 percent -RRB- , and those between ages 28 and 44 , referred to as `` Gen Y '' respondents in the survey -LRB- 37 percent -RRB- .

Two-fifths of the people who did n't see a doctor when they needed one did so because of the high cost of care .

They either did n't have medical insurance coverage or they perceived the cost of such care to be excessive , according to the survey , which was released early Tuesday to CNN by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions , a nonpartisan , independent research center .

`` Costs are impacting the system , and it 's changing how we respond to our health care , '' said Paul Keckley , executive director of the center .

In addition to data about how many Americans fail to seek necessary medical care because of high costs , another theme that emerged in the survey focused on consumers ' dissatisfaction with the nation 's health-care system :

• 94 percent of respondents said they believe health-care costs threaten their own financial security .

• More than half said they think 50 percent or more of the money spent by Americans on health care is a waste .

• Only 6 percent indicated their own family is totally prepared to shoulder the financial burden they expect to face .

Not only are Americans putting off health care and facing increasing dissatisfaction , they are also shopping around for better deals on doctors ' fees , prescription medication prices or health insurance plans to cut costs , according to the survey .

There has been a lot of perceived loyalty and commitment in health care , Keckley said , and many providers think patients will stay with them .

`` This study suggests that people really do n't -LSB- stay -RSB- , '' Keckley added . `` And that 's surprising . ''

Despite the desire to shop around and gather more information to make improved decisions about their health-care choices , the abundance of options also can be baffling , says Kathleen Stoll , deputy director of Families USA . The group is a nonprofit , nonpartisan health care advocacy organization that regularly advises consumers on choosing insurance coverage plans .

`` People weigh the costs of deductibles versus premiums , and these options can be confusing . They are asking themselves , ` What is it that I can afford in the family budget ? ' I sense a lot of people feeling unnerved by having to choose less -LSB- insurance -RSB- coverage because that 's all they can afford , '' Stoll told CNN .

The survey also underscored Americans ' receptiveness to innovations that potentially lower costs and offer greater convenience , pointing toward growing preferences for options such as retail walk-in primary care clinics in drug stores , medical tourism -LRB- high-quality , relatively inexpensive medical procedures obtained abroad -RRB- and Web-based medical services -LRB- often referred to as e-visits -RRB- .

Sampling a nationally representative group of more than 4,000 adults using a Web-based questionnaire , the survey was funded by the center 's parent company , Deloitte LLP , which has a wide range of clients in the health care industry . The center released its first version of the annual survey results in 2008 .

Last month , the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation released its own health-care survey findings , with even greater numbers reflecting cutbacks in spending on medical services and treatments .

According to the report , more than half of American households scaled back health-care spending in the previous 12 months before the survey , which was conducted in early February .

Families relied on home remedies and over-the-counter medications instead of going to the doctor about 35 percent of the time , and they skipped visits to the dentist 34 percent of the time .

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Survey finds 24 % of respondents skip medical care when they 're sick or injured

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Largest groups affected by high prices : uninsured and people between 28 and 44

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Deloitte Survey also finds people shopping around for best prices

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Other trends : walk-in clinics in drug stores and medical tourism in cheaper nations